Biggest Coaster Letdown

[Top Thrill Drag]

this is where you say what coaster u were REALLY looking forward to, but it ended up letting u down and overhyped--please include an explanation

I would have to say Apollo's Chariot becuase i'm not really into floater air like that, its kinda boring IMO.

[RCT2head]

Dude, don't insult my only chance at riding a hypercoaster in the area. but, biggest letdown was Space mountain, cool themeing, but not as fast and twisted as it was supposed to be.

[CedarPoint89]

I dont Really have one, but if i had to pick, id say Mantis

[beck2003]

mean streak and superman ultimate flight

[leonardofury]

Oblivion, Its just too short and there was so much more they could have done with it

[OrlanDude]

I'd have to say Iron Dragon at Cedar Point. I always wanted to ride a suspended coaster because with the side to side swinging they looked they would be fun. Boy was I disappointed when I first rode Iron Dragon.

But after riding the Big Bad Wolf at BGW (which I liked) a few years ago, I realize that the ride designers of Iron Dragon screwed up.

[cryingout]

I also have to say that Iron Dragon was a complete let down. I was really wanting to ride a suspended roller coaster, but it was just slow and stupid. I want to ride Top Gun at Kings Island. I think that may redeem that genre of coaster for me.

Also, I thought Mantis was a bit of a let down. I rode it expecting it to be very fun, but it was just metiocre. I'm not sure how to explain it. I mean, it is a good ride, but it just didn't do for me what I expected.

[raptorrvnge4928]

Well nobody has said it, but of course somebody must...

..Top Thrill Dragster is proof (in my opinion)that a large hill (top hat in this case), a large drop and speed do not automatically make a rollercoaster good...

.. so a launch, huge height, and a huge fall, topped off by a very short ride, doesn't impress me much.

[RCT2head]

[i] But after riding the Big Bad Wolf at BGW (which I liked) a few years ago, I realize that the ride designers of Iron Dragon screwed up. [/B]

Don't get me wrong, I'm a total Busch fan, but the Big Bad Wolf has turned into a letdown for me. It does swing alot, but it soesn't seem to go very far, only doing 3 helixes to the second lift, which only makes you go only maybe about 3 ft difference to the Loch Ness Monster's drop (I can't really tell a difference in drop height when looking off the coaster and on) that added to the mid-summer line, which leads it out of the q-line house, it just gets old. and shaky. but, the good part is at night, because sometimes you'll find that there are people in line for the front 2 rows, and that means you can ride as many times as you want until either the park closes, or someone's waiting to get on in your row!!!

[Frito]

My biggest let downs are both at PKD. Volcano and Hypersonic XLC. Both are to short and very boring. I'd rather travel to SFA or BGW.

[Coaster'Coon]

My biggest let down was Superman: Ultimate Flight, too. It sounds cool with the whole 'flying position" thing, but it was kinda corny after the dive loop...and it was too short.

[Joshua H]

Son of Beast...I never get sick on coasters, but one ride on that one made me and my girlfriend super sick and I had the worst headache.... don't know what was up... (maybe the wet track had something to do with it)

[Hyde244]

Why does everyone hate Iron Dragon? When I rode it, it was freakin' awesome! I mean ,I'll still ride it and love it. A coaster doesnt need to be fast and everything in order to be good. Well, now that I'm off of that, I would hav eto say my biggest let down would have to be X. I mean, riding it was fun, since it was a completely new way to ride a coaster, but the mechanical problems and everything let me down.And I knwo that people may say that all new coasters have a lot of problems with their systems, X is still having problems to this day, Dragster, which I believe to be mroe technical than X, was runnign fine towards the end of its first season.

[Squid2]

Hmmm... can we list a coaster we haven't ridden?

I would have to say Deja Vu at SFoG, for the sheer fact that they can't seemingly keep the sucker running. This thing must be cursed, or possessed, or something! I'd say you have about a 30% chance of Deja Vu running on any given operating day.

Squid2

[Frito]

You're right Hyde, a coaster doesn't have to be fast to be good. But it can't just putt along most of the track either. Even the pretzel turn at the end kinda putts around. Iron Dragon is very boring in my book.

[Top Thrill Drag]

Iron Dragon was and still is not meant for those who are TTD junkies---u only have to be 46 in to ride the Dragon, making it a great first coaster for kids (it was my first real one (Jr Gemini doesnt count)). The same for DT

[Jones]

i love iron dragon, its my second favorite next to Gemini.
as you can see, i dont like overly fast and big coasters
i perfer complexity over speed.



but anywho, id have to say that Disaster Report, the indoor coaster at Cedar Point, was a let down for me.

[CityOnDown09]

The Phantom's Revenge @ Kennywood.
If any of you ever had the oppurtunity to ride the Steel Phantom, you will know what I mean.

[erhswimming]

I'd have to say the biggest letdown for me was Dueling Dragons (Ice) at Islands of Adventure. Don't get me wrong, this ride was really great but it was just way overhyped. My friend told me this side without a doubt beat out even the Incredible Hulk (my favorite at IOA) but it didn't come close. I still love it though. Actually, there really isn't a roller coaster I don't like. It's just that I was all expecting Dueling Dragons to blow me away but it didn't.

[Hyde244]

Originally posted by Jones
but anywho, id have to say that Disaster Report, the indoor coaster at Cedar Point, was a let down for me. Dont ya mean Disastor Transport? I still lvoe that ride, even though it needs to be renovated again very bad, since the coaster it was based on,Space Mountain, is being renovated.

[holy_reality]

Originally posted by Jones
i love iron dragon, its my second favorite next to Gemini.
as you can see, i dont like overly fast and big coasters
i perfer complexity over speed.



but anywho, id have to say that Disaster Report, the indoor coaster at Cedar Point, was a let down for me.

Gemini was ultra cool, too bad it wasn't racing that day.

I was sorely disappointed with MF.. it was like, so what?

The drop was cool though..... damn 3.5 hour wait.

Now I've never been on TTD, but it the launch matches up to Xcellerator, isn't it worth it, just for the launch? Xcellerators hill was kind of boring to, so I bet TTD's isn't all that... but... the launch.... wow...

I was in the back of Xcellerator and it was the first thing we did when it opened so it was almost a walk on, I'd have been pissed if I waited more than 25 minutes for it, but still, the launch... whoa.

Better than Montezoomas, which has one of my favorite launches ever... Supermans is pathetic... which also disappoints me now, it used to be so fun and a short wait with both towers open, and the launch was in high gear, now it's like they've slowed it down or something and they only ever have one tower open, and of course, it's closed this year.

[RCT2head]

it's all of SF problems with Superman. in short, SF 1/2 sucks

[Harpo]

Top Thrill Dragster's launch makes Xcelerator look like grandma pulling out of the shopping center after buying bread for the week. Well, OK, not quite that dramatic, but Dragster's launch, in my opinion, blows away Xcelerator's launch. (Although I like Xcelerator's launch, too.)

[goliath]

TTD is simply PATHETIC!!! THe only good part is the launch the rest of the ride is just pathetic. A 4 hour wait for a 20 second ride. As for MF, a 3.5 hour wait for a 2.5 minute ride. What would you have? Mantis also sucked.

[Harpo]

Well, personally, I love TTD and Millennium Force. But, everyone has their own preferences! That, of course, is why there's such a variety in coasters. If everyone liked the same things, it'd be much easier for the designers!

(By the way, being on a rollback on TTD is one heckuva great experience, too -- especially when in the front seat, where the front has gone over the crest, then gets yanked back! Woohoo!)

[leonardofury]

Hey that could be a new ride! A 420ft shuttle looper!

[Frito]

(By the way, being on a rollback on TTD is one heckuva great experience, too -- especially when in the front seat, where the front has gone over the crest, then gets yanked back! Woohoo!)

I wouldn't know that experience, as TTD was closed each time I've gone to CP since TTD opened. :(
I have been on a rollback in the past though. On PKD's Flight of Fear the season it first opened, that was a wierd and frightning experience to say the least. Thank god for built-in safety devices to prevent the rolling back train from crashing into another train.

[AssMonkey69]

Definitely Goliath, It Looked so cool bein high up and all, I rode it when it was the tallest in the world. And it sucked, you went5 down a drop, up to a bank, 2 helixes, and it's over. A major let down.:o

[Duane]

I know this is going to sound crazy. But, The Beast at King's Island right after the trim breaks were installed. The first set of trims at the bottom of the first hill were so bad, it threw me forward and injured my left shoulder. It brought the train to A crawl, and eliminated the only airtime the coaster had. They have softened the trims since then, and it is A little better. I have taken well over 100 trips on this roller coaster. Paramount has really messed up the first half of this ride. It used to be wonderful.

[Tohot2se]

I would have to say S.O.B for me, total disappointment.

[erhswimming]

I would have to say S.O.B for me, total disappointment.

WHHHATTT?????? How could you be dissin' Son of Beast? When did you ride it, maybe if you rode it the year it came out yea it might have been a slight dissapointment but if you rode it recently it shouldn't have been too bad since its expectations have dropped. IMO, I think Son of Beast is awesome, especially since it is only a twenty minute wait usually. Did you really hate it that much? Or was it just that it didn't live up to its expectations? Well, I guess everyone has their own opinion...but mine is in favor of SOB!

[holy_reality]

Originally posted by AssMonkey69
Definitely Goliath, It Looked so cool bein high up and all, I rode it when it was the tallest in the world. And it sucked, you went5 down a drop, up to a bank, 2 helixes, and it's over. A major let down.:o

whoa man...... you were dissapointed with Goliath's helix? That is intensity you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else..... and it only has one.

Originally posted by Harpo
Top Thrill Dragster's launch makes Xcelerator look like grandma pulling out of the shopping center after buying bread for the week. Well, OK, not quite that dramatic, but Dragster's launch, in my opinion, blows away Xcelerator's launch. (Although I like Xcelerator's launch, too.)

what i wonder is if the intensity is constant, like it is during xcellerator, all the way until you hit the 120 or so mph? Because when you approach 120 it's going to slow way down, terminal velocity and all.... so... I don't know...

I'm wondering if TTD gets weaker than Xcellerator's launch simply due to the fact that Xcellerator still has room to go faster but TTD starts getting hit with air/friction resistance as it peaks on up past 90-100?

[Harpo]

When you're on Dragster, for the entire launch, it feels like your ears have relocated behind your head. Plastic surgeons could use the launch photos to show you how you could look after extensive surgery, especially if you'd like a bit of an Oriental appearance.

Heck, real top fuel dragsters can get to over 300 MPH, so I don't think terminal velocity is a major issue when going a "mere" 120 MPH.

[leonardofury]

Isn't terminal velocity roughly about 150mph. Thats when you're skydiving though because the air resistance stops your body accelerating anymore.

[holy_reality]

i was always taught around 120, if you're in an air suit and tucked up real tight in a diving position maybe 150 mph.

120 is not an obstacle with a powerful launch, no, but things do tend to slow down the higher your speed gets, the initial launching force is going to be the most intense part.

xcellerator and ttd are curved uphill on the launch to compensate for that, which is a really genius idea.....

[Harpo]

Keep in mind, terminal velocity is not a constant. It's dependent upon such factors as mass and density, as well as aerodynamics.

Here's an interesting web site that demonstrates for a sky diver:

http://hypertextbook.com/facts/JianHuang.shtml

It would be possible to run through some calculations for Dragster, although I don't really feel like doing that right now! :D I was doing too many calculations for my Finance class last night -- I'm calculated out for now! For those who are so inclined (of declined, if coming down the hill), the Dragster trains each weigh about 16,000 pounds when empty. When full, you could add about another 2400 to 3200 pounds (estimated).

Also, the trains are designed with aerodynamics in mind, although, naturally, they aren't perfectly aerodynamic. And, the riders can have an impact on the aerodynamics. Properly shaped windscreens would help with the aerodynamics, but they would take away from the ride experience.

Anyway, have fun with it

[leonardofury]

I'm having to do mangetic fields calculations at the moment. They are quite bad enough, thank you;) .

[Harpo]

Magnetic field calculations? Oh, how fun! Don't forget that good ol' Right Hand Rule!

[leonardofury]

Not to mention gauss law!

[jukingeo]

this is where you say what coaster u were REALLY looking forward to, but it ended up letting u down and overhyped--please include an explanation

I would have to say Apollo's Chariot becuase i'm not really into floater air like that, its kinda boring IMO.


Well, I guess if you are not into 'floater' coasters, I can see that. But I found Apollo's Chariot to be a fine example of a Hyper-Out & Back.

To me I find those quick over the hill types (Top Thrill Dragster, King Da Kaa, Vekoma Shuttles, back and forth shuttles)....yeah I guess I found most of those let downs. Sure Top Thrill and King Da Kaa have the launch rush and the height...but to me they don't really fall into the same group as other regular circuit coasters do. So when compared to a full circuit coaster...naturally in my book, all these type will always fall short. To me they are just not a real coaster.

I had three major disappointments with full circuit coasters:

1) Great American Scream Machine @Six Flags Great Adventure. I had very high expectations for this coaster when it was first released back when I was in high school. I finally rode it last year and it clearly wasn't what I expected. What I didn't like? It was very rough and bangs you around. Also the loops are very tight. Maybe this is due to it's age and I never rode it when it was new. Could be too that in it's day it was 'the thing to ride' as it was one of the first coasters with 7 inversions, but now there is soo many new coasters that are much much better.

2) Rolling Thunder @Six Flags Great Adventure: Bad Bad Bad. This I WAS kind of expecting not to be good, primarily from past rider feedback. Six Flags has a history of not really being good with wooden coasters and Great Adventure in particular pretty much has neglected the potential of this ride. Last time I rode this wooden gem, one side was shut down (the more interesting side with the fan curve), it grinded horribly in the turns, and it barely got over the second hill. Very rough too. Seriously, if they got this coaster fully overhauled and running up to spec...BOTH sides set to race...it could be something awesome.

3) Wildcat @Hershey Park: I am pretty much an avid historian when it comes to coasters...particularly wooden ones. I always marveled at the old Harry Traver / Prior and Church type twister coasters. When I first laid eyes on the Hershey Wildcat, my jaw dropped. Here was a coaster that was very reminicent of those old coasters. Naturally when I visited Hershey, I made a beeline for the Wildcat...(even though I visited Hershey one year after the Lightning Racer was open, I wanted to ride the Wildcat first). Huge let down! The ride has to be one of the roughest wooden coasters made. Worse...it is not that old. One thing I saw that could be the culprit was that the Wildcat, being older than the Lightning Racer didn't use the 'New' Millenium Flyer trains. The Millenium Flyer trains are much like the old Prior and Church rolling stock and I believed that with a good retracking and updating the trains to the Millenium Flyers, the Wildcat could be made into something special and very memorable.

The Lightning Racer was sheer bliss in comparison. I loved this ride and many times I had to think twice that I was actually riding a wooden coaster...it is THAT smooth.

I think those had to be the greatest disappointments for me out of what I thought would be really good rides.

JG

[Kadillac]

Serial Thriller at Astroworld. It looked so crazy and awesome, but the damn train was so crappy, I left the coaster with a lump on the side of my head.

[Small Print]

Air @ Alton Towers. Sure its quite good, bit not as good as it was hyped up to be. It has got a little better over the last year or so, as it has gotten a bit faster.

[nickdaegg]

Air @ Alton Towers. Sure its quite good, bit not as good as it was hyped up to be. It has got a little better over the last year or so, as it has gotten a bit faster.

I think that it was better than I heard. It is a top class ride, well worth over an hours wait. :mad:

For me, biggest letdown would be spinball whizzer. Honestly, I wouldn't Queue for more than 20 minutes for it. It, well, sucks :bored:

[2005]

Air by far. looks awesome, but is very very slow and forceless. Not much fun at all, and the novelty of flying has worn off by the end of (your first) ride.

wild wild west in spain was awful. Looked fun, after after torre de zeus, was amazingly rough and had no airtime at all. Zero fun. Luckily there was no que at the time - but i didn't bother to reride.

Ultimate would probably be next, although i didn't expect that much.


Rides that were better than i expected (that didn't look that great) were torre de zeus, oblivion (you know its short, but its a lot of fun, still scary even after many re rides), BTR clone in spain.

[nickdaegg]

It's not about speed (see earlier in thread). It's about the sensation - and that makes it an ace ride.

[-NGS-]

my biggest letdown is e.t. in usf. i knew it was going to be slowish, but i didnt know it was going to stay completely level almost the whole time. i also didnt know it would go a max and minimum of 5 mph.

[WoddenWarior]

I'd say The Beast. It's a great ride, but I believe it's overly hyped. It would've been better if it didn't have all of the publicity behind it.

[okinawaboy11]

I'd have to say Iron Dragon at Cedar Point. I always wanted to ride a suspended coaster because with the side to side swinging they looked they would be fun. Boy was I disappointed when I first rode Iron Dragon.

But after riding the Big Bad Wolf at BGW (which I liked) a few years ago, I realize that the ride designers of Iron Dragon screwed up.


WHAT? Iron Dragon was awesome!


I would say, Roar (SFA). It got really good reviews, but its just painfull. (Well its a wooden twister without Millenium Flyer trains who's idea was it to put PTC trains on it?)

[MDEKing]

The Mummy at Universal Studios Orlando. It was an awesome ride, but not worth the 1 hour 45 minute wait for it. The theming was amazing nonetheless.:)

[MrPKI]

I have to say I haven't really been let down that much by any coaster I've ridden. Either I heard it was great and loved it or heard it was not-so-great and didn't like it so much.

If I had to pick one though it would probably be SFOG's GASM. Don't get me wrong, I still think it's a great ride, but it didn't really live up to what I thought it would. On the other hand though Georgia Cyclone completely surpassed my expectations. That is one awesome coaster.:up:

[SnooSnoo]

X-Flight at GL: Horrid
Son of Beast: Way to rough

[alpengeist04]

If I had to pick one, I'd have to say Nitro. It's a very good ride, but IMO it's not a top ten coaster like many of the coaster polls say.:confused: With that said, I still look forward to riding it each time I go to SFGr.Adv.;)

Edit: I just thought of one more, Hurler at PKD. It's just too rough and boring.:down:

[Xtreme_Gz]

I'd Have to Say Superman the Escape at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

Back then I was TERRIFIED of heights (even today im scared of being over 10 ft from the floor..yet somehow the concept of being on a roller coaster 100's of feet in the air does'nt effect me as much)Once I saw that thing around 1997 I freaked and wanted to wait for the group to ride it. Every time we went to Six flags I always hoped that the ride would be busted or we just don't have enough time to.Anyway once Goliath came out I was more afraid of that then Superman. Then I was forcefully put on the Ride Goliath I decided to Test my courage for Superman. I was Seriously Paranoid when I sat in the Seat (2nd row) I even tried to put the lap bar further in nearly crushing my legs.I got ready to scream for the launch.We blast off. went up, went down then arrived at the station. I was speechless. Once we exited the ride I looked up and said THAT'S IT!!!!

All this time being scared of this thing...when I find out It's as exciting as Ninja.

[Harpo]

I'd say The Beast. It's a great ride, but I believe it's overly hyped. It would've been better if it didn't have all of the publicity behind it.

The Beast was far better over 20 years ago, before they put in all the trim braking throughout the ride. As it stands today, The Beast is just a *****cat compared to how it used to rage through the woods.

[lee2by4]

Rita at Alton Towers, Big let down, not a very long ride time and isnt very exiting.

[KingdaKa1]

Coaster Con XXVII at Cedar Point. TTD was closed on Sunday Night, Monday, and Tuesday Night. All POVs were missed. They all lead to 28 great rides on MF.

[Squid2]

I'd have to 2nd Revenge of the Mummy at USF. In my opinion, it did not live up to the hype. Mind you, it's a good ride, but short.

Squid2

[Matandmel05]

Kong (not a coaster but, it still sucked) at Universal Florida. I waited three hours for that major disappointment. Actually, now that I think about it...the only good attraction there was Back to the Future. I haven't been there since 1990 so, I don't know if the newer rides are better. I'm just glad IOA came along.

[Harpo]

I'd have to 2nd Revenge of the Mummy at USF. In my opinion, it did not live up to the hype. Mind you, it's a good ride, but short.

Squid2

Got to admit, I liked the California version of Mummy much better than the Florida version. Yes, they are different, and I think California's is much more fun.

[okinawaboy11]

Serial Thriller at Astroworld. It looked so crazy and awesome, but the damn train was so crappy, I left the coaster with a lump on the side of my head.


Ahhahahahha! You got excited over an SLC?!?!?! Hahaha that cracks me up. :haha:

[gamemast75]

Well, my Friend took me on a Vacation with his Family to Kings Island. We got on the Adventure Train. It was not Scary, but Fun. When we hit the 3rd Lift (Last Lifthill) I was getting a little shaky. We were inside a Temple and it took like forever to get to the Top. I was getting ready for a Big Drop. I realized we were going to the Station because of the 1 Foot Drop.

[WoddenWarior]

Well, my Friend took me on a Vacation with his Family to Kings Island. We got on the Adventure Train. It was not Scary, but Fun. When we hit the 3rd Lift (Last Lifthill) I was getting a little shaky. We were inside a Temple and it took like forever to get to the Top. I was getting ready for a Big Drop. I realized we were going to the Station because of the 1 Foot Drop.

That's a family coaster. I thought it was neat, but in no way is it meant for big thrills.

[Kadillac]

my biggest letdown is e.t. in usf. i knew it was going to be slowish, but i didnt know it was going to stay completely level almost the whole time. i also didnt know it would go a max and minimum of 5 mph.

What did you expect out of a kids ride?

:haha:

[Harpo]

I understand what gamemast is talking about -- it isn't that the overall ride was disappointing. But, going up that last lift does give quite a sense of anticipation of something to come, and then the ride abruptly ends. It simply feels incomplete. If the ride could have been designed to go up that third lift, then do at least one drop, and maybe a helix, before returning to the station, it would have felt like the lift had valuable meaning to the ride. Or, the ride could have an appearance to show that the final lift is merely a return to the start, with no expectation of something more to come, in which case there wouldn't be quite the same amount of let-down. However, the lift makes it look like there's something fun left to come, although the only thing remaining is the station.

[KingdaKa1]

On Adventure Ex., the part with the ... (elves, gnomes, ogers?) was cool. One time it stopped the first time I rode it. And I thought something scary was going to happen. To my surprise, it is just a little roll into the station.

My biggest letdown was Son of Beast. It had a great layout, but I waited an hour and a half to get my brain rearranged. Great ride, poorly built. I expected a ride like that out of Werner Stengel, but who the heck is the Roller Coaster Corporation?